Reel and method of forming it



Sept. 22, 1936. s MCCANN 2,055,179

REEL AND METHOD OF FORMING IT Filed Nov. 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w /Qwmm' P. s. M CANN 2,055,179

REEL AND METHOD OF FORMING IT Sept. 22, 1936.

Filed Nov; 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Ava/PM) Patented Sept. 22,1936

PATENT OFFICE REEL AND METHOD OF FORMING IT Paul S. McCa-nn, La Grange, Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation oi. New York 2 Application November 10, 1934, Serial No. 752,449

18 Claims.

This invention relates to reels and methods of forming them, and more particularly to metallic reels for supporting material such as lead covered cable and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a strong, durable though light weight reel structure and a simple and economical method of forming it.

In accordance with one embodiment the invention contemplates forming the heads of a reel from cylindrical tubular metal stock formed out of its normal shape to conform in cross-section to a rectangular shape tapered so that the rectangle progressively changes from a substantially square cross-section at one end of the tube to an oblong rectangle at the other end of-the tube to form spokes broader at the end thereof which is to be the inner end than at the outer end. The spokes thus formed are welded together along their corresponding sides to produce an annulus to which are secured annular reinforcing elements to provide a reel head.

A better understanding of the invention will be had from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view oi a reel embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view oi one of the spokes:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the invention when a straight type of drum is used;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a tube before the forming thereof with. a set of forming mandrels which may be used, inserted part way into the tube; A

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective showing the assembled position of the mandrels shown in Fig. 5, as they will be in the tube after the tube has been formed, and r Fig. '7 is a view showing how a flat rectangular platemay be formed into a spoke in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate the same parts throughout the several views, a reel indicated generally at In may be formed by welding together a plurality of spokes I I, and securing to the inner and outer surfaces of the spokes a pair of annular channel members I2 and I3, respectively, to form a reel head. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the spokes II as shown in perspective in Fig. 2 may be formed by either of two methods; one of the methods proposed is to take a cylindrical tube Id of sheet metal (Fig. 5) and bend it to conform to the shape shown in Fig. 2 by insertingtherein a three-part mandrel comprised 5 of a wedge I5 and a pair of forming tools I6 and II. The forming tools I6 and I! and wedge I5 may be pressed into the tube I I until they assume the relative positions shown in Fig. 6 whereupon the tube will be formed to the shape shown in 10 Fig. 2. After a predetermined number of spokes II have been thus formed they may be welded to each other and to a pair of annular channel members I2 and I3 (see Figs. 1 and 3) at the points of contact between the channel members and the spokes.

After a number of spokes II have been welded .together to form an annular disk, and the channel members I2 and I3 have been affixed thereto,

a flanged drum I8 may be secured between a pair go of such heads by inserting through bolts I9 through apertures and 2I in the flanges of the channel member I2 and through apertures 22 in the flange of the drum I8. The drum I8 is provided with an aperture 23 through which the in- 25 ner end of material to be wound upon the reel may be extended while the material is in position upon the reel.

When a reel such as that disclosed is being used, it is necessary to wind and unwind the material on the reel. Accordingly a spider 24 may be provided of the type disclosed in the patent to A. A. Bureau 1,911,427 which may be secured to the reel as disclosed in said patent.

Another embodiment of the invention contemplates the utilization of a straight or flangeless drum 25 (Fig. 4), and in this embodiment of the invention the reel head is made up in substantially the same manner as that disclosed hereinbefore; the tubular spokes II being of the same construction and configuration as in the other embodiment of the invention and the annular channel member I3 is secured to the outer ends of the spokes II in the same manner as in the other embodiment, but an inner annular channel member 28 is used in place of the channel member I2. It will be noted that the flanges of'the channel member 26 extend outwardly. whereas the flanges of the channel member I2 extend inwardly. This construction is used so that the straight drum 25 may be secured by bolts 21 to the channel member 26, suitable apertures 28 being provided in selected ones of the spokes II to permit the insertion of a tool to fasten the bolt 21.

- having dot and dash line's 3| thereon which indi- Ifthe fiat rectangular cate bending I lines. sheet 30 is bent upon a brake press with a series 0f right angle bends all made in the samedirec- I tion along the bent lines'3i, a, tubular spoke such as that shown in Fig.2 may be formed, and will be identical with the spoke formed from cylindrical tube 14, with the exception that as shown in Fig. 2 there will be either a crack or a seam along the dot and dash line 32. Spokes formed in the manner just disclosed may be welded togetherto form an annular disk to be used as a reel head in identically the same manner as the vtubular spokes formed from a cylindrical tube.

Although specific embodiments of theinven tion have been disclosed, it-will be apparent thatthe invention is subject to alterations without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I 1. A reel head comprising a plurality of tubular 'tapered spokes secured directly each to another in abutting relation to form a body having a substantlally circular outer periphery. v

2. The method of forming a reel comprising forming rectangular tubes with constant perimeters and with the width thereof varying as a function of the depth thereof, securing a. series of such tubes together to form a pair of aimuli, securing annular members to the inner and outer surfaces of the annuii formed by the tubes, and positioning a drum between said annuli.

3. The method of forming a reel head which comprises forming a plurality of tubular members with a rectangular cross section of a predetermined constant perimeter throughout their length but with progressively changing side dimensions to form spokes which when welded together will form an annulus, securing a plurality of said spokes together at adjacent sides to form an annulus, and securing supporting members to the inner and outer ends of said spokes.

4. A reel comprising spaced heads and a drum, each of said heads comprising a plurality of spokes secured together to form an annulus and each spoke having a rectangular cross-section of constant perimeter throughout its length and being broader at its inner end than at its outer end and being wider at its outer end than at its inner end, and reinforcing members secured to the inner and outer surfaces of said annulus.

5. The method of forming reel heads which comprises forming cylindrical tubular stock to the shape of a rectangular tube having a. constant perimeter the width thereof varying as a function of the depth thereof to taper the outer end of the tube in one plane and to taper the inner end thereof in another plane, and securing a plurality of said rectangular tubes together to form an annulus.

6. A reel head comprising a plurality of hollow spokes having a rectangular cross-section secured together to form an annulus with fiat surfaces of the spokes in abutting relation, said abutting surfaces lying in planes perpendicular to the reel head surface, and inner and outer reinforcing members secured to the inner and outer surfaces of the reel head.

7. The method of forming a reel head which with a rectangular cross-section and tapering side walls, and securing said hollow spokes to- Y gether with corresponding side walls in abutting bers to the inner and outer surfaces of the annulus.

9. The method of forming reel heads which comprises forming spokes with a rectangular cross-section and a constant perimeter throughout their length but with adjoining sides tapered in opposite directions, and assembling a plurality of such spokes with correspondingsurfaces in abutting relation to form an annulus.

10. The method of forming reel heads-which comprises forming spokes with a rectangular cross-section and a constant perimeter throughout their length but with adjoining sides tapered in opposite directions, assembling a plurality of such spokes with corresponding surfaces in abutting relation to form an annulus, and securing reinforcing members to the inner and outer edges of the annulus.

11. A reel head comprised of a plurality-of hollow rectangular spokes having a constant perimeter throughout their length but with adjoining sides tapered in opposite directions and assembled to form an annulus, and a pair of reinforcing annular channel members secured to the inner and outer edges of the annulus.

12. A reel head comprised of a plurality of hollow rectangular spokes having a constant perimeter throughout their length but with adjoining sides tapered in opposite directions and assembled to form an annulus, and a pair of reinforcing annular channel members secured to the inner and outer edges of the annulus with their flanges extending toward the center of the annulus.

13. A reel comprised of spaced heads and a flanged drum, said heads each comprised of a plurality of hollow rectangular spokes having a constant perimeter throughout their length but with adjoining sides tapered in opposite directions and assembled to form an annulus, a pair of reinforcing annular channel members secured to the inner and outer edges of the annulus, and means for supporting said drum between said heads.

14. A reel comprising spaced heads and a drum, each of said heads comprising a plurality of spokes secured together to form an annulus and each spoke having a rectangular cross-section of constant perimeter throughout its length and being broader at its inner end than at its outer end and being wider at its outer end than comprisesiorming a plurality of hollow spokes at its inner end, reinforcing members secured to the inner and outer surfaces of said annulus, and means for securing the drum between said heads.

15. A method of forming reel heads comprising forming cylindrical tubular members to tubes each having a rectangular cross-section throughout its length with the sides in parallel planes ta- .ing bending rectangular sheets of material to form tubes each having a rectangular cross-section throughout its length with the sides in parallel planes tapered in one direction and the sides at right angles thereto tapered in the opposite direction. and assembling a plurality of said end in one plane and tapered in the opposite direetion in a plane at right angles to said first plane.

18. A spoke for reel heads and the like comprising a sheet metal tube having a substantially rectangular cross-section of substantially constant periphery throughout its length and being.

tapered toward its inner end in one plane and tapered toward its outer end in a plane at right 

